Podchaser Logo Rate on Podchaser

Episode 10

full
Published on:

2nd Aug 2022

What Happens When We Die? (with Eileen Baldeshwiler)

What happens after you die? Don’t worry, not getting philosophical here, we're wondering what literally happens to your body after you flatline. Who takes care of it, where does it go, how much does it cost? Unless one has been through this process, it remains a bit of a mystery. Many of our preconceived notions regarding the next steps after death arise from what we've seen in the movies. The person is pronounced dead, and in the next scene, they’re in a casket. So much happens between those two points! Consider Julie and Jeremy’s curiosity piqued! Naturally, we called in our lovely funeral director/embalmer friend to enlighten us on today’s episode!

Chicago funeral director/embalmer, Eileen Baldeshwiler joins us to teach about her profession and educate on the different modes of disposition. She delves into the process of embalming, different types of religious needs, and some really weird and interesting things people put in their loved ones' caskets. Eileen is a highly empathic and knowledgeable mortician who has helped many families in some of the toughest moments of their lives. She explains that funeral directing is an emotionally taxing, but incredibly rewarding profession.  Not only are you a frontline worker, but also an endline worker. What better honor than to take care of your fellow humans after death with dignity and kindness?

Tune in to hear a lighthearted look at what happens after you die, and to hear how Julie and Eileen hypothetically killed Jeremy eight times.  Don’t be scared, we’re all gonna die someday. Listen to your doctor friends :)

Topics discussed in this episode:

  • How Eileen became a mortician
  • Difference between a mortician and a medical examiner
  • What is the funeral home process after a person dies?
  • What is the process at the hospital after someone dies?
  • The main modes of disposition
  • Where deceased are stored in funeral homes
  • The least expensive mode of disposition and the most common
  • What is aquamation and green burial?
  • Finances behind funerals
  • Benefits of pre-arranging funerals
  • What is the process of embalming?
  • Eileen's experience as an embalmer during the pandemic
  • The oddest things Eilieen has been asked to put in a casket

To connect with Eileen head to Nelson Funeral Home’s website here!

Find us at:

Website: http://www.whatthehealthpodcast.com

Email: whatthehealthpodcast1@gmail.com (DON'T FORGET THE 1!)

Call the DOCLINE at 312-380-5005. Leave us a message, we will listen and maybe answer/play it on the show!

(Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)

Social:

Join our Facebook group- The Health Nuts!

https://urlgeni.us/facebook/wthpod

@what_the_health_pod (IG, TikTok)

What the Health?!? Podcast (YouTube)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Your Doctor Friends

About the Podcast

Your Doctor Friends
The show that teaches you to sniff out the garbage and answers all the questions you wish you could call or text your doctor friend. Don't get caught in endless web search spirals and stop scouring social media for health answers. Let us be your doctor friends!

About your hosts

Jeremy Alland

Profile picture for Jeremy Alland
Dr. Jeremy Alland is a sports medicine physician at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH, a renowned, consistently top-10 nationally-ranked orthopedic practice in Chicago, IL. In addition to a busy clinical practice, he serves as the head primary care team physician for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Dogs, as well as a team physician for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Fire Soccer Club. An avid athlete, Dr. Alland played collegiate baseball for DePauw University before pursuing medicine and enjoys golfing, basketball and stand-up paddleboarding. He lives in a suburb of Chicago with his wife, Katie, two children, Olive and Logan, and their goldendoodle, Archie. He never thought he would have a podcast, but has found it insanely fun and is excited to bring fun and approachability to the most common questions we hear as doctors.

"Work Hard + be kind" -The Alland Kitchen Wall

Julie Bruene

Profile picture for Julie Bruene
Dr. Julie (Julia if we’re being formal, Julia Rose if she’s in trouble) Bruene is a sports medicine physician at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH, a renowned, nationally-ranked orthopedic practice in Chicago. She serves as a team physician for the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, and DePaul University. Aside from her obvious interests in sports and medicine, she is a true crime obsessive and is a total sucker for rescued cats. She lives in Chicago with her husband and partner-in-crime, Adam, and with several of the aforementioned rescued cats. We don’t need to get into specifics about the exact number here. She likes when people are kind to one another and when animals dress up like other animals. Rock over London, rock on Chicago.